Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“I think that’s a very logical answer.” Leaning over, I kissed his cheek again. “Thank you for telling me how you feel.”
His blush that time seemed to be because of the praise. “You’re welcome…Daddy.”
Stefan was still working through his feelings on the title, so I just took it in stride and tried not to draw too much attention to it. I simply squeezed his hand and led him up on the porch. “Taking that into consideration, I’m going to make the executive decision to curl up in the big chair. It’s oversized enough that we’ll be able to have a good cuddle, and I think you’ll like the gliding motion.”
And I was pretty sure being held would tempt his little side to peek out at least.
“I…I liked cuddling with you in the library the other day.” Stefan worked at the admission, looking sweet and nervous at the same time. “And…and I liked the way you held…the way you helped me with my applesauce.”
Giving his hand another squeeze as we headed into the house, I shut the door behind us. “I thought that was the perfect way to spend a lunch break and I’d like to do that more with you.”
He cocked his head, making me smile as I realized I’d been a bit vague. “The cuddling and feeding part. It doesn’t just have to be at lunch.”
“I’d like that.” His attention shifted as he looked around the house as we walked through the small foyer and into the living room, studying the ridiculous amount of furniture I had as he took everything in. “This is beautiful. I can see why brown is a color you really like too. Aside from the scales part.”
Some people might’ve said I had too much wood in the house but I knew there was no such thing…just like there was no such thing as too many chairs or side tables. “Yeah, Kenzie’s family is really talented and did a lot of the woodwork. It’s exactly how I imagined it would look.”
I was pretty sure their talent for crafting wood was magical in nature, but I hadn’t been able to prove it yet.
“It’s amazing.” His gaze landed on the bookshelves on either side of a large fireplace. “Oh, that’s—”
“I thought you’d like that part.” It was filled with books, some newer than others, and now there were quite a few that spanned a large age range. “You can look at them now or you can open your present. Which would you prefer?”
“Present. Then books.” The words popped out like the cork on a bottle of champagne. “Please, Daddy?”
Oh, he wanted it enough to pull out another Daddy?
“I think that’s a great plan.” Setting the bag on the coffee table, I helped him put his books beside it and settled on the floor. “Come check it out.”
“Yes. Thank you.” He threw himself down by the table and took a deep breath as he looked at the bag.
It was blue and decorated with balloons in primary colors and I could see him nearly vibrating with excitement. “It’s…it’s not big boy stuff, right? That doesn’t look like a big boy stuff bag.”
I wasn’t sure what was going through his head, but he didn’t seem frustrated at the idea that I’d gotten him little stuff. “Why don’t you check it out and see?”
Nodding faintly, he let out a slow breath and reached for the bag, but he stopped before his hands reached it. “Let’s…let’s do it together, Daddy.”
Something about his voice felt softer but I didn’t let myself overanalyze it as I scooted around behind him. “That’s a great idea.”
The nervous energy running through him seemed to fade slightly as I wrapped my body around his and he settled back against my chest. “Yes, doing things together is a good idea. Relationships should start as you mean to go on. I read that in a book.”
It was good advice no matter where he’d read it.
“I think that’s smart. We want to start off with honesty about what we want and who we are.” Wanting to keep things light, I grasped for a silly example. “What if you said you liked cheesecake just because you knew that was my favorite, and then ten years down the road, I find out you hate it? That would be terrible.”
Stefan giggled, nodding as he snuggled against me and reached for the bag again. “That would be very sad for both of us. But I like cheesecake, just to let you know.”
Kissing the side of his head, I sighed dramatically. “That’s a relief.”
That time when he shook it was from barely suppressed laughter and it took him a moment to get himself under control. But that gave him time to pull out the silly decorative paper that kept everything hidden. “I thought you’d think so, Daddy. What…what dessert don’t you like?”